Simulations with Standardized Patients for Nursing Students in Preparation for Clinical Placements in Mental Health Care
Åsne Knutson de Presno, Anita Øgård‐Repål, Mariann Fossum
Abstract
BackgroundNursing students often express uncertainty about clinical placement in a mental health care setting. Simulation with standardized patients may provide an opportunity for students to explore clinical situations in mental health nursing before their clinical placement, thereby increasing these students’ overall satisfaction and confidence levels with regard to mental health nursing.MethodA qualitative descriptive design was selected. Twenty-four undergraduate nursing students participated in four focus-group interviews after mental health simulations with standardized patients were conducted. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data.ResultsThree main themes were identified: (1) preview into everyday life in a psychiatric ward, (2) adjusting assumptions and apprehensions regarding mental health nursing and, (3) mutual respect during the nurse-patient meeting.ConclusionsThe simulations were valuable in preparing students for mental health clinical placements by increasing their belief in capability to act appropriately in clinical scenarios.